By Deborah Nnamdi
Celebrated American Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter Ron Kenoly has died at the age of 81.
The death was confirmed by his longtime music director, Bruno Miranda, in a statement posted on Kenoly’s official Instagram page. According to the statement, Kenoly passed away on February 3, 2026. No cause of death was disclosed.
Miranda, who worked closely with Kenoly for more than two decades, described him as a mentor and spiritual father whose life and ministry were defined by deep faith and humility.
“This morning, Feb. 3, 2026, we said goodbye to Dr. Ron Kenoly,” Miranda said. “For over 20 years, I had the honor of walking alongside him in ministry around the world—not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness.”
He noted that Kenoly consistently rejected the label of entertainer, insisting that his true calling was to lead people into genuine worship. Miranda added that Kenoly taught that worship was rooted in gratitude to God for Christ’s sacrifice, not in personal expectation, and that integrity and obedience off the stage were as important as ministry on it.
“Today we grieve deeply but not without hope,” the statement concluded. “The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.”
Born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly moved to Hollywood, California, after high school. He served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1968, during which he performed with a cover band, the Mellow Fellows, touring military bases.
After his military service, Kenoly returned to Los Angeles to pursue music ministry full-time, rising to become one of the most influential voices in contemporary Christian worship. His major breakthrough came in 1992 with the release of Lift Him Up, which became the fastest-selling worship album of its time.
Over the course of his career, Kenoly released several acclaimed worship projects, including Jesus Is Alive, Ancient of Days, God Is Able, Sing Out With One Voice, Welcome Home, and High Places: The Best of Ron Kenoly, leaving behind a legacy that shaped modern worship music across the world.
